9.4.7 Climate change and water security in Australia The effects of climate change in Australia can already be seen. Rainfall patterns are changing, less rain is falling in the southeast and southwest of Australia, while rainfall has increased in northern Australia. Evaporation rates have increased due to increased temperatures, reducing the availability of surface water. Higher temperatures and reduced rainfall have increased the fire season, and fires are more intense.
FIGURE10 Average annual evaporation, Australia
Darwin
Weipa
Kalumburu
Katherine
Kowanyama
Cairns
Normanton
Halls Creek
Broome
Tennant Creek
Townsville
Port Hedland
Mount Isa
Mackay
Telfer
Alice Springs
Longreach
Newman
Giles
Rockhampton
Birdsville
Carnarvon
Charleville
Wiluna
Oodnadatta
Brisbane
Total evaporation (millimetres)
Marree
Geraldton
Bourke
Coffs Harbour
Kalgoorlie- Boulder
Cook
Ceduna
Port Augusta
Perth
Dubbo
4000 3600 3200 2800 2400 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000
Mildura
Esperance
Sydney
Adelaide
Port Lincoln
Albany
Canberra
Horsham
Melbourne
Warrnambool
Orbost
Cape Grim
St Helens
Strahan
Hobart
0 500 1000 km
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
FIGURE11 Average relative humidity across Australia
Average relative humidity (%) 100
Darwin
Weipa
60 40 20 80 0
Kalumburu
Katherine
Kowanyama
Cairns
Normanton
Broome
Halls Creek
Tennant Creek
Townsville
Port Hedland
Mount Isa
Mackay
Telfer
Alice Springs
Longreach
Newman
Giles
Rockhampton
Birdsville
Carnarvon
Charleville
Wiluna
Oodnadatta
Brisbane
Marree
Geraldton
Bourke
Coffs Harbour
Kalgoorlie- Boulder
Cook
Ceduna
Port Augusta
Perth
Dubbo
Mildura
Esperance
Sydney
Port Lincoln
Adelaide
Albany
Canberra
Horsham
Melbourne
Warrnambool
Orbost
Cape Grim
St Helens
Strahan
1000 km
0
500
Hobart
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
TOPIC9 Water in the world 265
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